DeliriousAbsol
*Crazy Absol Noises*
71 - Swampy Showdown
The two dragons didn’t say anything else as they lead Cleo and her friends towards the swamp. Their sticky trails glistened in the low light, clinging to every plant they brushed against. Cleo had given up trying to wipe the slime off her fur. It matted together, spiking out in an untidy fashion. Not one of them had managed to avoid it. The vast amount the slimy dragons left made Cleo feel more certain about their claims that they’d been shunned by the outlaws and Darkness alike.
Cleo gave up trying to untangle an uncomfortable mat on her shoulder to take in her surroundings. The trees grew further apart in this part of the Border Woods. The familiar tall pines had given way to alder and oak. Toadstools sprouted around the roots of the trees, and bracket mushrooms clung to the bark filling the air with a musty scent that reminded Cleo of the cooling season. Ivy stretched out over the ground, covering the thick moss that cushioned the pokemons’ feet.
Thick patches of nettles grew up between the trees, so tall the pokemon had to shield their eyes as the prickly stems snapped back from the goodra. Once they were through, Cleo plucked a few dry nettle leaves and dead stems from her fur. She quickly checked Spark was okay, but the dedenne had ducked down into Cleo’s ruff to avoid a thorough stinging.
A stagnant smell carried towards them on the breeze and Cleo raised her paw to cover her nose. She wasn’t alone. Spark made an audible gag, and Faith and Mischief pressed on ahead with both paws over their muzzles.
“I guess we’re close to the swamp?” Cleo whispered to Spark.
The dedenne nodded her little head but said nothing, too preoccupied with holding her breath.
Thick mud sucked at Cleo’s paws and she yanked one back from a patch of soggy moss. Mud oozed out from where she’d been standing and clung to her fur, clogging between her toes. She suppressed a shudder and forced herself on, treading carefully to no avail. The goodra seemed to know the area like the back of her paw, but the mud didn’t bother her. She lead them on regardless, while her smaller companion slid over the surface without breaking it.
After what felt like an eternity of fighting through thick mud the clearing spread out into a dark bog. The water was thick with algae and pondweed, and tall bullrushes grew up around the edges. Weeping willows spread their branches like a curtain over the water at the far end of the bog, and cutting across it like a bridge was a fallen tree, rotting and slick with algae underneath. The top was blanketed with rough lichen, and what was left of its branches had fallen away into the swamp. At the far end of the fallen tree stood an island with one lone tree standing in its centre. Ancient and long since expired, its branches had rotten away to stumps. A door hung in its trunk on rusted hinges, revealing a hollow centre.
It took Cleo a moment to notice the other houses scattered about the swamp. High up in the trees were little wooden huts that weren’t a far cry from the ones she’d lived in as a hatchling. Odd tribal markings were painted across some, once vibrant but now faded away with time. Bridges joined the houses, linking them together in a web above their heads. Some of the bridges had rotted away and hung down like ladders, and many were missing wooden slats.
“You lived here?” Faith asked Harlequin.
The zorua shook her head. “I lived nearby, but I used to come here a lot.” She gave a mournful look towards the hollow tree. “It’s where I learned to use my poisons.”
Slip and Snails didn’t use the log bridge. Instead they waded through the swamp, moving across it towards the far side. Cleo could just make out the sound of running water. Was there a spring nearby? Or another river? She stood at the edge of the swamp and grimaced at the eggy smell fogging before her nose. Slimy water licked against the moss as ripples surged back from the two dragons. They really wanted them to walk through that?
She watched Slip as she waded on ahead, the water coming up to her hips. The mud and pond weed glided off her body to rest back in the stagnant water.
Faith climbed in after Harlequin who swam on ahead, keeping her muzzle well above the water’s surface. Mischief stood on the bank and tested the water with his toes. His face contorted in a grimace. “We have to walk through this?”
“You’d probably float.” Enigma stood in a tree above them, his expression calculating as he tried to find a way across the canopy.
“You’re taking the trees?” Spark gasped. “And leaving us to wade through this muck?”
“Of course!” When Enigma saw Mischief’s forlorn expression he sighed and raised his arms in defeat. “Fine. I’ll go through it too if it makes you feel any better.”
Spark folded her arms. “I should think so.”
Enigma dropped down into the water and cringed as it soaked through his fur. He muttered to himself as he forced his way on, and Harlequin looked back at him. The zorua laughed, then choked as water filled her mouth. Enigma couldn’t move for laughing. The pair got a disdainful eye-roll off Harbinger as he paddled on ahead of them.
Cleo joined Faith, flinching as the water came up to her chest.
“Careful!” Spark stood back as water splashed up to Cleo’s shoulder.
The meowstic shook her head and gave Spark a playful smile. “After scolding Enigma like that, the least you could do is get wet.”
“I don’t think so,” said Spark. “I’d drown!”
Much to Cleo’s surprise, Enigma hadn’t been wrong about Mischief. The whimsicott moved on ahead of them, stepping over the pond weed. It acted like a platform, sinking slightly so the water covered his feet.
The two dragons climbed out on the other side of the swamp, water cascading off their smooth hides. They waited patiently for the others to reach them. The first was Harbinger, his white fur dyed green with algae. He shook out his fur as Harlequin climbed up beside him. The zorua’s thick coat had carried everything with it, making her look swamp green. She shook herself violently, sending pond weed into the air and causing both Harbinger and Enigma to step back. The banette had stopped to strain the water from his mane and scarf.
Cleo felt uncomfortable with slime, algae and pond weed clinging to her fur. Spark hopped off her shoulder and stood back to let Cleo climb out. Faith offered a paw to help her which Cleo took gratefully.
“Whew!” Spark said cheerfully. “We made it!”
Dirty water rained down on her head and she squeaked, leaping back so she almost fell into the swamp. Enigma laughed, flicking his wet mane back behind him.
“That wasn’t nice, Enigma!” Harlequin scolded, but a playful smile adorned her muzzle.
Spark bristled, her whiskers crackling. “Why I aughta-!”
Cleo snatched her up and popped her back onto her shoulder. “Now isn’t the time.”
“But-”
“No, Spark.”
The dedenne growled and sat down with a huff, drawing another chuckle from Enigma.
“Sorry,” he said, tucking his paws behind his head. “I couldn’t resist.”
Faith rolled her eyes and steered Enigma away from the seething rodent.
Harlequin turned to address Slip. “Where is this burrow?”
“Right here.” The goodra pulled aside a thick patch of wide-leafed ferns.
Beyond it was the source of the gurgling water. A spring burst out of a small mound of rocks, forming a stream that lead away from the swamp. It was much cleaner than the mucky water that still dripped freely from Cleo’s fur. The temptation to climb into it and wash was intense. But her eyes were drawn to the tree that Slip pointed at. Right at its base was a burrow that, at first glance, looked like any other buneary burrow. It looked too small for Harlequin to wriggle down, let alone Harbinger.
“That’s it?” Harlequin’s voice was thick with disappointment. She looked over her friends, and it was clear to Cleo she had reached the same conclusion.
“Toxicroak are pretty slim, Harlequin,” said Faith. “Maybe… maybe we need to go back? Think up another plan?”
“No.” Harlequin shook her head and turned back to the hole. “I can fit in there no problem.”
She stuck her head into the burrow as though to check her hopeful assumption was right. Her fur flattened around her face and shoulders, revealing just how small the zorua was beneath her deceptive coat. She pulled her head back out and nodded at her friends.
“Okay, so who else is going with you?” Enigma asked. “The only other one here small enough to fit in that burrow is Spark.”
“I’m not goin’ without Cleo,” said Spark.
Mischief crept from Cleo’s side to inspect the burrow. Cleo watched him, her heart in her throat.
Harlequin looked at each of her friends, then turned to the two dragons. “Is it narrow the entire way?”
Cleo’s heart froze at Harlequin’s words. She watched Mischief intensely, looking for some clue he was re-thinking his offer.
“We don’t know,” said Slip. “To be honest, none of us have been brave enough to explore it.”
Harlequin looked back at the tunnel and made a thoughtful noise. “Are you sure it goes all the way to the lake?”
Slip nodded and wound her gooey paws together. “Definitely. Unless it’s filled in over all this time. But as far as we know, Hydreigon doesn’t know about it.”
Faith looked up at the dragon. “But you said that the revolt failed?”
“Only because they got wind of it before we could launch it,” Slip explained. “The toxicroak never got to use the tunnel.”
“Well, it will pay off now,” said Harlequin. “I’m going.”
Harbinger stepped forwards, his eyes flashing. “Hang on! No one else can fit through there, Harlequin. You’re not seriously going alone?”
“I have to! No one else fits!”
“Please, Harlequin.” The pleading note in Harbinger’s voice made Harlequin’s eyes widen. “You can’t do this alone! You’ll be outnumbered. They’ll kill you!”
“I know what I’m doing.” Harlequin stamped a paw. “I’ve thought this through!”
“Like you thought the previous time through?”
Harlequin’s jaw dropped and tears glistened in her eyes. “That’s not fair, Harbie! My head wasn’t clear that time.”
Harbinger closed his eyes and sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He raised his head again and flashed a canine. “But going in there alone is suicide!”
“Harbie-”
“No, he’s right,” said Cleo. “You can’t go alone.”
“He won’t be.” Mischief stood up and moved beside Harlequin. He met Cleo’s pleading gaze, but words failed her. “I can fit through that hole too. I’ll go with him. He wont be alone.”
“No…” Cleo shook her head. Then a second time, more sharply, as her thoughts cleared. “We’re not splitting up. Let’s just… find another way.”
“But we’re so close!” Harlequin implored. “Please… I can do this.”
Cleo looked between Harlequin’s pleading stare and Mischief’s determined one. Behind her, Slip and Snails fidgeted with unease as they listened to the bickering pokemon. Cleo’s heart felt heavy, mirrored in the looks of her friends. Enigma leaned against a tree, rubbing his paw over his face. Harbinger continued to stare down at Harlequin, his fur flattening along his spine. With a resigned sigh, Cleo removed the bracelet from her wrist. The snap drew Mischief’s eye towards her, and she reached up to remove his collar.
“Okay,” she said finally. “I know you said you want to do this, Mischief. So go with Harlequin. Keep her safe.”
Mischief gave a single nod as he rubbed his bare neck. He joined Harlequin’s side, receiving an encouraging nod off the zorua.
“We’ll keep each other safe,” said Harlequin, a look of relief crossing her face. “The rest of you stay here and guard this burrow. Keep any of the Darkness away. And if we’re not back by sunset tomorrow-”
“Stop it, Harle.” Enigma pushed himself back from his tree and stood beside Harbinger. “You will be back.”
Harlequin fell silent and her ears drooped slightly. She met Enigma’s stoic stare and took a step back. Harbinger took another step towards her and lowered his head to her muzzle.
“Please… come back safe,” he muttered. “I won’t lose you again.”
“Harbie…” Harlequin swallowed thickly and nodded again. “Once this is over, everything can go back to the way it should be.”
Without another word, she turned and scrambled into the burrow. Mischief gave one last glance back at Cleo then wormed his way into the hole, his body shifting as it contorted to the right shape.
Spark shuddered on Cleo’s shoulder. “I’ll never get used to that.”
Cleo couldn’t respond. Her blood had turned to ice. Everyone stood in silence as they stared at the burrow’s yawning entrance. Harlequin’s plan was officially in action… and Cleo had never felt more helpless.
...
Ripwing stood back from Starshine to catch his breath. “Well done! I think we can call it a day here, kid.”
Starshine’s face lit up with a smile and he turned his head towards Tinker. “Did you see that, Dad?”
Tinker grunted and looked over the top of the folder that had occupied his interest for the afternoon. He hadn’t seen much, too busy with reading up on Mint’s pokerus research. But he’d not wanted to stay underground, leaving Starshine alone with Ripwing. He’d caught glimpses of the battle, and offered a word of praise whenever Starshine looked to him for encouragement.
The riolu nodded anyway and forced a smile. “Well done, Starshine.”
The altaria practically glowed with happiness.
“You’ve done well, Tinker.” Ripwing followed Starshine as the altaria returned to Tinker’s side. “I’d say he’s a natural.”
Tinker tried to hide the fur bristling along his spine. Somehow, hearing that from one of Hydreigon’s former aces didn’t settle well with him. “That’s good. Perhaps he can help us end this war after all?”
“He’d certainly make a good addition to our team,” said Ripwing.
Tinker’s jaw tightened and he met the salamence’s gaze. Ripwing’s expression was friendly, but there was still something that disagreed with Tinker.
Starshine, however, seemed to relish in the salamence’s presence. “I’d love to keep training! Can I, Dad? Please?”
“That’s up to Ripwing.” Tinker looked down at the notes again and leafed through them. “If he has the energy then I don’t see why not.”
Starshine looked up at the older dragon, and Ripwing closed his eyes as a rumble of laughter shook his body.
“Perhaps later?” he said. “Right now, I need a little rest.”
Starshine nodded and huddled down next to Tinker. His eye wandered to the folder in the riolu’s lap. “What’s that?”
Ripwing followed Starshine’s gaze and answered before Tinker could. “I see Mint has introduced you to our research?”
Tinker grunted a reply without looking up at Ripwing. “Yes. And as fascinating as it is, it does make one wonder what on earth you were all thinking?”
“It’s by no means perfect,” said Ripwing. “It wasn’t ready to be unleashed on Estellis.”
Tinker grunted again and looked up at the dragon. “So you had no say in the matter?”
“Rio released it without my permission,” Ripwing explained. “We’re working hard to try and… reverse the damage. It has slowed our progress considerably.”
“Well, I feel finding a cure should have been the priority before unleashing a biological weapon on the world.” Tinker leafed through the notes again. “There is little here on any means to counter this monstrosity.”
Ripwing grimaced. “It’s still early days-”
The air warped around them, drawing their gaze to the spot where Ripwing and Starshine had been training. Hazy shapes appeared from the warp, solidifying into a group of pokemon. A gardevoir stood among them, surrounded by four kirlia and a small number of pokemon Tinker didn’t recognise. But what sent a chill through Tinker wasn’t the presence of pokemon believed extinct. It was the huge white dragon that towered over them, its canine face oddly friendly as it flashed a toothy grin. A smaller creature popped up between the dragon’s feathery ears. It was like a pikachu, but its head flopped from side to side as a pair of eyes twinkled from ragged holes cut into its torso. Tinker’s scream was cut off into a choked gasp and he sank back against the wall as the folder slid from his paws.
“Greetings!” The dragon’s voice was like a clap of thunder.
All Tinker could do was blink up at him, but Starshine and Ripwing rose to their feet.
“Who are you?” Ripwing demanded. “Where did you come from?” He looked to the gardevoir and bared his teeth but it did little to hide the fear and surprise on his face.
The gardevoir folded her paws in front of her and lowered her head in a bow. “Sorry for the intrusion. But we were sent here post-haste.”
Tinker stuttered as he looked over the group. The stories Cleo and her friends had told came rushing back to him. The huge white dragon… the strange pokemon.
“My name is Hope,” the gardevoir went on. “And this dragon is Reshiram. We were sent here by Xerneas from the Fairy Garden to help you.”
“Help us?” Tinker scoffed, finding his confidence. He leapt to his feet and clenched his free fist. “Somehow it feels a little late for that.”
“Oh, it’s not late,” said Hope. “But your friends are about to walk into danger. And if we don’t do anything fast, they will lose their lives.”
Tinker choked on his own saliva. Starshine placed a fluffy wing around his shoulders.
“Our friends?” Starshine asked. “You mean Cleo and Faith?”
Hope nodded. “They’ve taken a route they shouldn’t have stepped on.”
“Stop speaking in riddles!” Tinker rasped as he tried to clear his throat. “You’re as bad as that mawile!”
Hope’s expression fell and she looked up at Reshiram.
The large dragon’s brow furrowed and he lowered his head slightly. “They have gone into the Shadow Lands to try and assassinate Yveltal.”
“What?” Tinker dropped the folder and its pages ruffled in the brief silence. “Yveltal? What preposterous-”
“It’s true, Tinker.” Ripwing caught the riolu’s eye. “Hydreigon has been trying to awaken that thing for years. So…” He turned his gaze onto the white dragon. “It’s finally happened?”
Reshiram nodded slowly. Worry pulled his lips tight. “Yes. It has. And if we don’t stop them, precious lives will be lost.”
“Then I guess we have no choice.” Ripwing turned towards the ruin. “I shall gather the others and we’ll go and stop them.”
“Wait.” Tinker stretched out a paw to stop Ripwing, searching for the right words. Instead his mouth flapped pointlessly as he looked from the salamence to the new pokemon.
“I understand you’re worried,” said Reshiram. “But you won’t be fighting alone. We’ll be with you.”
Tinker scoffed and shook his head, still unable to find the right words.
“And we have something that might help.” Hope looked up at the creature perched on Reshiram’s head. “NyukNyuk? If you don’t mind?”
The creature garbled something incoherent and vanished into thin air. It appeared again from Starshine’s shadow and held out a spectral paw. Tinker tried to pull Starshine back, but the altaria was fixated on the item glittering in the pokemon’s claws. Ripwing gathered around to investigate, his breath hot on Tinker’s shoulder. Two bangles dangled from NyukNyuk’s paw, each with a stone in them that were very similar to the ones Faith wore.
Starshine took them with a cheerful ‘thanks!’
NyukNyuk’s paw vanished under his garment then snaked out again clutching another pair of bangles which he offered to Ripwing. “Nyuk?”
“These are mega stones,” Faith explained.
Ripwing took his and turned them in his claws, examining them with the scrutiny of a scientist.
“I shall teach you how to use them quickly,” Hope went on. “You’ll be needing them if we are to rescue your friends.”
If Ripwing understood what she meant he showed no indication of it. He nodded at the gardevoir then vanished into the ruin with a swift grace rather beguiling of such a large creature.
“Not much of a talker, is he?” Reshiram chuckled.
“He is.” Tinker folded his arms and frowned up at the dragon. “But you’ve shown up unannounced at his dwelling and in such large numbers! What if the Darkness sees you?”
“You need not fear that,” said Hope, folding her paws before herself again. “As we arrived, the kirlia, Grace and I set up a barrier over this clearing.” She gestured to a tall pokemon stood behind her wearing a pointed hat.
The pokemon didn’t appear to notice. Her expression was one of pure concentration as if her senses were fixed intensely on her surroundings. Or beyond them.
“All of us here, including your ruin, are hidden from prying eyes,” Hope went on. “Any murkrow or other members of the Darkness that enter this area will feel repelled from it.”
Tinker’s eyes widened. “You can do that? But… they’re dark-types! Surely they-”
Hope closed her eyes and chuckled. “Oh, it works. Believe me.”
Now the initial tension had eased, Tinker looked over the other pokemon that had appeared in the clearing. They’d begun talking softly to each other. One looked like a flower, towering over the others, while another closely resembled an eevee. Two small fluffy pokemon with lolling tongues plodded around on little legs as they joined the pink canine’s side, and another creature shifted around the flower pokemon’s neck. A small, white thing trailing a garland of flowers behind it.
Tinker turned his attention back onto Hope. He wanted to ask her how many pokemon existed in that Fairy Garden that he’d never seen in Estellis. But he didn’t get the chance. Grace leaned over the gardevoir’s shoulder to whisper in her ear.
Hope’s spine stiffened and she nodded, turning back to Tinker. “Could you please hurry Ripwing? We need to move and fast.”
...
Cleo’s fur was still damp with swamp water. She stood hugging herself as she stared anxiously at the small burrow. Harlequin and Mischief had been gone a long time, and Cleo hoped desperately they were okay. Her paw felt bare without the bracelet and she absently rubbed at it, wondering if she’d done the right thing releasing Mischief.
To make matters worse, it was rapidly growing dark. Her gaze wandered to the sky visible through the wide canopy. It had turned a vivid red, smudged with black clouds. Cleo’s heart hammered as she became more and more aware of where they were. Stood in the Border Woods, close to the Shadow Lands, blanketed under the ominous red sky. A place of danger where dark- and dragon-type pokemon patrolled regularly; where other pokemon rarely left with their lives.
Slip and Snails followed her gaze to the canopy and the goodra wound her sticky paws together. Neither dragon had spoken since Harlequin and Mischief had vanished into the burrow, but they were growing more and more restless. It made Cleo’s mouth turn dry. Could they sense something she couldn’t?
“We need to move.”
Her words surprised herself as they left her mouth, seeming loud in the silent woods. She hugged herself tighter, looking over at the rest of her friends.
Enigma stood leaning back against one of the trees, and he looked from Cleo to the canopy. Looking for danger or a place to hide, Cleo couldn’t tell.
“Shame that hole isn’t bigger.” Spark nodded to the burrow. “Otherwise we could hide in there.”
“We could always go back to the swamp?” Faith offered. “That hollow tree would make a good hiding place.”
Cleo nodded, although she was reluctant to leave the burrow in case Harlequin and Mischief came back to find them all gone.
“I’ll wait here for them.” It was almost as if Enigma had read Cleo’s thoughts. He shrugged. “I can turn invisible, I’ll be fine. You lot go and hide somewhere.”
“We can’t leave you,” Faith gasped.
“I said I’ll be fine.”
Harbinger had begun pacing, his ruby eyes on the burrow. After a moment he shook his head and looked up at Cleo and Faith. “I’m with you. We can’t stay out here in the open. It’s too dangerous.”
Faith looked back at Slip who diverted her gaze. The mawile inclined her head on one side. “Could you lead us back to the swamp?”
Slip’s eyes widened and she looked back at the burrow. Cleo’s eye followed the dragon’s gaze and suddenly a glob of slime splattered across the tunnel entrance. Cleo’s heart leapt as she looked back at the goodra. Slip wiped a paw across her mouth then threw her head back, letting out a guttural howl. Snails copied, filling the air with a raucous noise.
Harbinger roared and leapt forwards, swinging his horn and sending a blade of air at the two dragons. They leapt aside and slipped into the swamp, vanishing beneath the murky surface. Harbinger stood on the bank, his flanks heaving. He jerked his head towards the canopy and narrowed his eyes.
Cleo didn’t hear it at first. But a shrill noise rose above the rustle of branches, growing louder and more insistent. Her fur fluffed out and she stepped back from the swamp, following Harbinger’s gaze. Wing beats exploded overhead, shaking the branches and joining the shrill screeching. Yellow eyes reflected the dim light from the setting sun. Small bat-like shapes flitted about above them, too fast to get a proper read on. They were joined by one much bigger shape, its long tail streaming out behind it. The screeching turned into a deep rumble that pressed on Cleo’s ears. Her friends flinched back, and Faith raised her paws to shield her ears.
“Noibat!” Harbinger spat, lowering himself to the ground.
Cleo felt her heart sink as she watched the larger bat-like creature swoop overhead, his yellow eyes on the clearing. His large ears vibrated, sending wave after wave of sound onto the cowering pokemon. Not again. Not another noivern. This time, not only were they without Mischief, they were in the dark. The dragons were in their element. And there were so many! There was no way they were coming out of this alive.
The noibat moved so quickly, their bodies blending with the shadows. Wherever Cleo looked, those bats were there. Yellow eyes shining with malice. Sharp teeth flashing in grinning jaws. There was nowhere to run. Spark left her shoulder, her whiskers crackling. But before she hit the ground a noibat swooped down and snatched the dedenne in his claws.
“I got a snack! I got a snack!” The noibat rose into the air, swinging Spark around by scruff. He tossed her into the air and caught her by the tail.
“Spark!” Cleo’s ears flew open but before she could ready an attack her ears were grabbed by sharp talons. Pain shocked through her head but she fixed her eyes on the swinging dedenne. “Put her down!”
The noibat were on them, surging down in a cloud of wings. Cleo’s captors tugged at her ears, dragging her feet from the ground. Blinding pain pulsed through her head as the noibat’s loud voices assaulted her. Claws raked her eyes and a loud scream left her throat, followed by a flash of pink energy. One of the noibat released her right ear with a screech, leaving her swinging by the other. The noibat struggled to hold her, its wings beating frantically as it kept Cleo above the ground. She lashed out with her arms and tails, her claws glinting red in the low light.
The canopy lit up with electricity as Spark finally composed herself. The noibat dropped her with a yelp, sending her falling to the ground among a number of stunned bat-like dragons. All Cleo could do was watch as the dedenne was snatched up by another noibat and whisked into the canopy.
Faith had taken her mega form and was preoccupied with fighting off several vicious bats. They were aiming for her horns in a bid to detain her, but many were snatched up and crushed instead. They’d managed to get the mawile alone, keeping her far from Harbinger who had also taken on his mega form. He grabbed bats from the air with his teeth, ragging them until they went limp. The absol moved much too quickly for the noibat to catch him. But for every bat he took down another two took their place. Soon the clearing was heaving with screeching noibat.
The noivern stood in the centre, reeling back from a flash of pink light. He swerved in the air, turning head over tail, then smashed back down onto his assailant. There was a sound like shattered glass as he struck the ground hard, pinning Enigma beneath him and breaking his mega form. Sound throbbed from the dragon’s ears, causing the banette to flinch back. Pink energy fizzled out on his claws as his face contorted into a grimace of pain.
The pulsing noise grew louder, filling the clearing and causing ripples to spread out across the surface of the swamp. Cleo screamed, desperate to fold her ears back over, but they were held open by wicked claws. Faith yelped, her paws flailing as the noibat raised her into the air by her twin horns, their ears vibrating as they added to the cacophony of noise. Harbinger crumpled, raising his paws to shield his ears. He lost control of his mega form just before he was hidden under a cloud of screeching noibat.
With Enigma firmly pinned under his claws, the noivern raised his head to look at the rest of the banette’s allies. “Made a stupid mistake, didn’t you?” A smile split the dragon’s maw, flashing his sharp canines. “Never trust a dragon, not even a rebel. Funny what they’ll do in exchange for their own lives, huh?”
Cleo’s heart turned to ice. She cast a wary glance back at the swamp. There was no sign of the slimy dragons. They were long gone.
“You’re not exactly the Outcasts we were told to look for,” the noivern purred, “but I think Lord Hydreigon will be pleased to have you lot finally in custody. Now, where’s that whimsicott?” He turned his head to look around the clearing, each movement causing a pulse of sound to vibrate through the air.
Nausea surged through Cleo in waves. She resisted the urge to look at the burrow, not wanting to give Mischief’s position away.
“After what he did to Boomer I wanted to pull him to pieces myself!” The noivern chuckled and licked his lips. “No one makes a fool of my swarm!”
The noibat broke into chittering laughter, so loud it made Cleo flinch. She hovered mere inches above the floor. But as she tried to summon another disarming voice to break free of her hold it was only met with pain. Her ears were ringing and her head swam as pain pulsed from her ears down into her spine. It made her feel sick.
Spark hung limp in her captor’s claws, her eyes closed, but she was still breathing. Cleo silently willed the dedenne to wake up and shock the swarm of bats. Anything to get free and escape.
“All right. We’ve had our fun. Let’s get ‘em back to Lord Hydreigon, then we can find that altaria.” The noivern fixed his wicked eyes on Cleo, grinning at the look of realisation in her eyes. “Friend of yours? Whatever. Haul ‘em back to the Shadow Lands, boys. And if any of ‘em struggle…” He laughed as he fastened his claws around Enigma’s throat, getting a sneer in return, “kill ‘em all!”